Sunday Territorian

Labor lip service is meaningles­s

Labor wants us all to help figure out how it can get the NT’s books back in the black. Consultati­on is great — but crowdsourc­ing budget repair is taking the piss

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WHEN Labor promised in opposition to be a consultati­ve government, it seemed innocuous enough.

Halfway through their first – and at this rate only – term it’s clear “consultati­on” is its substituti­on for actual leadership.

When Treasurer Nicole Manison called media to her office on Friday morning for briefing on her “plan for budget repair”, naively reporters thought there might be an actual plan involved.

Instead, they received a 37page document which outlined just how bad the Budget position is (spoiler alert, it’s cooked) but had no actual solutions other than a vague wish to halve expenditur­e growth across the next decade.

Rather than using their highly paid Treasury staff who have nifty degrees in things like economics to figure out how to do that, Labor wants you to come up with a solution to its debt disaster.

They’ve opened up yet more consultati­on until March to allow unions, business, in- ON THE PRICE OF CHRISTMAS HAMS

At a $100 for leg ham we will be going without this year. Louise Shaw $20 a kilo......tell em they’re dreaming! Mark Heath

The Big Ones get exactly zero dollars of our money on things like Hams. Shop Local. Especially if your local butcher does his own. Clyde Barrow

We get ours from Beta Coolalinga Butchers. $10.99kg grown and smoked in South dustry and Mr and Mrs Malak to volunteer their ideas.

I can save everyone three months of time and a bit of hassle:

– public service unions will tell them not to cut the public service;

– industry will say cut the public service and cut industry red tape; Australia. Beautiful ham. Bart Maverick

Dont buy supermarke­t pretend hams.Grab one from the little bloke.Hand made.Great service.Helps the little blokes stay alive! Graham Thomas ON WHY SANTA PHOTOS SHOULD BE STOPPED

Somebody trying to justify their HECS fees again Ray Rowe

Yep, one of my sons refused to go near Santa when he was little and I respected his wants. Margaret Walker OMG I’ve been saying this for years. Merryl Drummond

– a segment of the business community will say they don’t give a stuff provided they keep getting their corporate welfare;

– and Mr and Mrs Malak will say “don’t you dare put my rego up and can you please do something about the state of the footpath”.

Consultati­on is great; crowdsourc­ing budget repair is taking the piss.

While they haven’t figured out what they will do, Ms Manison gave a long list of things the Government won’t consider, including cutting the bloated public service, putting up power bills, or living within its means.

The Gunner Government’s aversion to making any decision without first paying costly

My kids hated vegetables too, but I made them eat them. #bullyparen­t Leonie Vando

Oh really now. Study for so long guess you have to say something every now and then. Problem is people believe them and look how youth are growing up. Their stupid opinions and voodoo work aren’t helping society or our children that’s for sure Gary Heath *audible groan Alan Fogarty

I agree. Why would you let your child be in distress intentiona­lly. I asked my children. It was their decision Michelle Filmer Thompson

Please crying at Santa has never worried my kids, they can’t even remember doing it, toughen up parents xx Julie Bourne

Put the kid on your knee and sit next to Santa — simple. Portia Walsh

Actually it is a proven fact that children are psychologi­cally stressed with the process of birth. Lets hope that those that come up with this type of crap take heed of this before they reproduce. James Neill

Teaching children about “body boundaries”? How about the “telling the truth” teachings? Lying to children about Santa for years is surely more damaging to trust. Rik Lindley

If you wanna a pic of Santa with ya kid then cool. I don’t think people should force their kid to do it. Melody Rumbal

Wait my parents made me help clean the house when I didn’t want to. Were they being bullies? Luke Donnelly

Greta said to me that Santa was stalking her as everywhere she went he was there. Trevor Howat

Should not ever force them for a stupid photo ffs Bonni RyanSmith

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 ?? Picture: JUSTIN KENNEDY ?? The Northern Territory cabinet needs to start walking the walk
Picture: JUSTIN KENNEDY The Northern Territory cabinet needs to start walking the walk
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